Saudi Arabia's Slim Defeat to Australia Delays World Cup Dreams
Saudi Arabia's national team faced a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat to Australia in the Group C final round of the AFC 2026 World Cup qualifiers at Jeddah's Alinma Stadium on Tuesday, delaying their qualification to the Asian next phase in October.
Forward Abdulrahman Al-Oboud opened the scoring for the Green Falcons almost 20 minutes into the first half, igniting hopes among fans that Saudi Arabia could secure a crucial victory. However, Connor Metcalfe equalized for Australia just before halftime, shifting the momentum of the match, while just three minutes after the break, Mitch Duke headed in a goal, giving Australia a 2-1 lead.
This goal was decisive as Saudi Arabia struggled to regain control of the match.
Despite creating multiple goal-scoring opportunities, including a notable penalty save by Maty Ryan against Salem Al-Dawsari, the Green Falcons could not find the back of the net again. Australia's defense held firm, securing the vital second spot in the group and guaranteeing their qualification for the 2026 World Cup. The Road Ahead for Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia needed to win by at least five goals to qualify directly for the World Cup. Although they fell short, the team can take pride in their performance and growth throughout the qualifiers. They will now shift their focus to the upcoming Gold Cup in the USA, where they will compete against strong teams.
This tournament will provide valuable experience and preparation ahead of the final World Cup qualifying matches later this year.
With this victory, Australia secured the last automatic qualification slot for the 2026 World Cup. They join already qualified teams such as Iran and Japan, along with Jordan and Uzbekistan, who will make their World Cup debuts.
As Saudi Arabia reflect on this setback, they remain determined to improve and secure their place in the World Cup. The journey continues, and the Green Falcons will strive to rise to the occasion in the next phase of qualifying.
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